Posted Wednesday May 08, 2019 by Beverley Resurge

Glasgow Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Mike Basler is raising funds to buy a portable Ultrasound machine and Laryngoscope for ReSurge Africa partner Korle-Bu teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana. In the developing world, Surgery can be an expensive and therefore prohibitive thing. Patients have to pay for procedures, medicines, bandages and sometimes the cost of an Anaesthetic means that the patient can’t afford to have the surgery that they badly need. In fact the WHO talks about the ‘catastrophic’ costs of surgery. Hospitals will find ways of ensuring that the most needy get the surgery that they need, but the burden of care can be costly. Ultrasound can cut surgery costs by allowing patients to have certain procedures carried out under a local Anaesthetic – Ultrasound can also help find blood vessels and veins in burns patients, which can be very difficult on burnt, badly damaged limbs and bodies.

A specialized Laryngoscope blade with a video camera can help when it is difficult to get a breathing tube in to a desperately sick burns patient. These tools not only make the Surgeon and Anaesthetists job easier, but also save lives!

The event

Dr Basler is raising funds to buy this important equipment by going for a long walk! Between Friday 3rd and 10th May he is following ‘The Camino Way’, a medieval pilgrimage route in Northern Spain, walking from Oviedo to Santiago, undertaking part of the route from Sarria to Santiago which is approximately 120km!

3 days into his walk and they have covered 77km already! Well on their way.

You can support him, his blistered feet and this very worthy cause by clicking on the donate button. It would be helpful if you could tick the gift aid box as this adds 25% to your donation with no extra cost to yourself.

We will keep you informed along the way and hopefully share photographs of his progress.

The Target

The cost of a portable Ultrasound machine is £7680. A Laryngoscope costs £1550 so our target is £9230. If we exceed this target you can be sure that any extra funds will be spent on training costs.

THANK YOU FROM MIKE, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT FOR AN IMPORTANT AND LIFE SAVING PROJECT